Laws that make drinking routine

To the editor:
    Recently, Maine lawmakers passed two bills which are likely to have a negative impact on both youth access to alcohol and cultural norms around alcohol use.
    LD 498 “An Act Regarding Alcoholic Beverage Tastings – On premises” allows for the tasting of distilled spirits, wine and malt liquor on an off-premise liquor licensee’s location. The tasting bill, LD 498, coupled with LD 989, “An Act to Allow for a Dual Liquor License”, would allow an establishment that carries a stock of at least $35,000 of wine to sell wine to customers who are having a meal.
    This means that grocery stores and big-box stores could now serve wine on site to customers. Families and children who once went to the store to buy food and clothing could now stop, have a meal and drink.
    Why are we creating a culture that makes drinking the norm? Why are we increasing access to alcohol as a means to improve our economy? Alcohol is a major public health issue, not an economic driver.
    The National Institutes of Health point out that “Substance abuse clearly is among the most costly health problems in the United States. Among national estimates of the costs of illness for 33 diseases and conditions, alcohol ranked second, tobacco ranked sixth, and drug disorders ranked seventh.”
    According to a 2007 Cost Report from the Maine Office of Substance Abuse, the total economic cost of alcohol abuse in Maine in 2005 was estimated at $568.1 million. Increasing access to alcohol will increase the cost of its use/abuse to taxpayers and will thereby negate any economic improvements that may occur as a result of increased sales.
    These new laws are ensuring that alcohol is indeed everywhere! As Mainers we need to step back and think about how this type of legislation can be detrimental to our families and our future.
Melissa Boyd, Maine Alliance
to Prevent Substance Abuse
Clare Desrosiers, Aroostook
Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition